Top lock for oil well pumps



|NVENT'ORS .D M GalZ .D G. GaZZ ATTORNEYS Filed March 29, 1948 JO J6 D M GALL ET AL TOP LOCK FOR OIL WELL PUMPS Patented May 30, 1950 stazza TOPLGGKFOR OIL WELLPUIYHS DouglasMiiall; and llcuglaslG Gall. Taft; Calif.

Application March 29, llflserialNo. 17,706

10, Claims..` (Cl. 1113-2197) This invention re1ates-in generalfto. improve.- ments--in insert type oil-well pumps.

In particularl the i inventionV is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a noveltop-lock` for a suspended insert-type oil well pump; such top lock being arranged toautomatically become eiective upon initia-l1lowering ofi-theipurnp into place, andto thereafter normally-` but releasably. secure the pump againstupwarda travel upon up stroke of then pumpred.`

An additional i objectotV the invention is to provide a tcp lock,` for an insert ty-pe oil well pum-p, which remainslocked during normal reciprocation ot thepump rod, but.` is auto maticallyreleased-for withdrawal ofthe pump to the surface-uponan upstrokerotthepumprod beyond itsinormal pointof i maximumirise;

A further object of this-invention is to provide a releasablelock, asl in the precedingparagraph,

which includes a normally laterally outwardly .f

sprung, longitudinally `extending leaf spring nger unit on a stationary part ofltheipumpand which unit bears at its-upperendagainst theztop lock ring from below; therebeinga` springlrelease sleeve on a reciprocating part oft the pump. in position-Ato slide overl and compress the= spring unit, tolreleaseposition; uponr upward motiornof thepump rod-beyondsaid-normallpointof maxi; mumrise.

A further objectof1the-=inventionis toprovide a practical and reliabletopmlock forinserttype oil `well pumps, and yetonewhich will loe-eaceedingly effective forthe purposeA for Which-it isdesigned;

These objectsV are accomplished.` by-rneansA ot such structure and relative 'arrangementof parts as will fully appearfby a perusal-lotthetfollowing specincation and claims.

In` the drawings:`

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional-elevation of aninsert type pump, illustratingthenovel top lock in engaged or operativeiposition.

Fig. 2 is a similar View; but shows.` the. top lock in released: positionpreparatory to` with drawal of thepump fromthewell:

Referring now moreparticularly tothe-characters or".v referenceon-the drawings; the invention is embodied in connection with aninsertvtypeoil well pump including the following:

The numeral lindicatesthe suspensiontubing of` a pumpingv assembly; such tubing being threadingly connected, at its.` lower end', withna coupling assembly 2, while the-upper end of,E the pump jacket 3"is threadinglyA connectedfftorthe lower end of said coupling assembly. The-standing-valveunit (notishown) is fitted on the lower end of thevpumpljacket .3.

Thereciprocating pumprod; which is indicated at It, extends downwardly through thesuspension tubing I and coupling assembly: 2, into pump jacket 3; beinglafxed, at. its lower end, to the traveling valve (not shown). However, the traveling valve is `i'lxed;- to' an upstanding tubular reciprocating plunger or insertjacket 5; including lines 6, as shown, for example, in U. S. Patent No. 2,026,465.

ThetubularA reciprocating plunger 5 is. thus actuated byl theipump rod Il, andirides` in close fitting guided relation aboutfa stationary tubular plungeri'l.

The stationary plunger 'l is threadingly connected, at its.` upper end; tothe lower end of a tubular suspensionmandrel 8f, which runs upwardly into thecoupling assembly 2; but terminates short offthe upper end' or the latter.

Said coupling assembly 2 includes an upper coupling 9 `and a lower coupling lllthreadedrtogether` and clamping therebetween Awhat is known asia top` lockA ring- Ifl; the internalY dametenof the top lock ring Il being somewhatlesser than theinternaldiameter ofvthe coupling assembly 2?.

Above the top lock ring- Il is a cylindrical seal"- ing head I2 tapered at the lower end, with said tapered lower endfmatchingly engagingwith an upwardly andoutwardly flaring, annular seat I3 formedl internally inthe-upper portion of the top lock ring Il; The upper end of the tubular suspension mandrel is threadingly connected into the sealingrhead I2 whereby the insert pump assembly is effectively suspended within the pump jacket 3;

In order.- to prevent the-insertpump, including the plunger 5 and stationary plunger 1,4 from moving upwardly inthe tubing upon the normal upstroke of. the reciprocatingspllmp rod Il, there is providedthe following toplock:

Adjacentits lov/er end, butz above `the stationary plunger 1, the suspension mandrel 8 has a collar Il! threaded-thereon, which collaiisllocked in place from below by a lock nut I5, The collar ll.- includes, inl integral: relation, a; plurality of circumferentially spaced,- longitudinally upwardly extending, lea-f; or` flat, spring lingers I6; These lingers Iii normally spring apart suilicient that they abut, at` their.A ends, against the lower end of the. toplock ring H, which lower end is beveled, asat I7. Atthisl pointf it shouldA be noted-that thev outsidediameter` ofi the; collar IA' frornwhchthe spring fingers lahave their in;- ception is; of# considerably lessen outerv diameter than the inner diameter of the top lock ring II. This is to permit the collar and nger when compressed to be confined within a retaining and release sleeve I8, which also is capable of passing through ring II. This sleeve is iixed, at its lower end, to the tubular reciprocating plunger at the upper end of the latter; such sleeve surrounding the stationary plunger in spaced relation, and running in guided relatively close tting relation with the lower end portion of the tubular suspension mandrel 3.

This allows the reciprocating plunger and connected parts to be initially lowered into the suspension tubing without possibility of the spring lingers expanding and possibly catching or jamming ahead of time. However, as soon as the sleeve I8 passes through the ring II and the head I2 engages seat I3, further lowering of the iingers is prevented, while sleeve i8 continues to drop as the plunger 5 to which said sleeve is connected moves to operating position.

As the sleeve pulls away from the ngers, the latter` are free to expand, and being then immediately below the ring II, engage the taper Il of the same to provide the desired positive lock and preventing upward displacement of the insert type pump in the pump jacket 3 during the normal upstroke of the pump rod l and connected parts of said pump.

Upon normal reciprocation of the pump rod 4 and the tubular reciprocating plunger 5, the spring release sleeve I8 works entirely below the spring fingers I6 and the lock formed by the latter is not disturbed. The normal upper limit of travel of the spring release sleeve I is shown in Fig. l.

When it is desired to release the pump for withdrawal, the pump rod l is actuated through an up-stroke considerably beyond its normal point of maximum rise. When this occurs the sleeve I3 passes upwardly about the iingers I5, springing them inwardly and coniining them for passage upwardly through the top lock ring II. As is necessary, the outside diameter of the plunger 5, as well as that of the remaining parts of the pump and the sleeve I8, must be such that they too can pass upwardly through the ring II.

In the above described manner, the locked-inplace insert type pump can be readily and quickly released for withdrawal from the well upon nothing more than an up-stroke of the pump rod 4 beyond its normal point of maximum rise, and a positive locking, as well as a positive interlocking, action is provided.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fuliills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specication sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as set forth herein.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useiul, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

We claim:

l. In an oil well pump which includes a pump jacket suspended by a coupling assembly from tubing, and a reciprocatory pump rod extending into the pump jacket from within the tubing; a pair of cooperative tubular plungers in the pump jacket, one of the plungers reciprocating with the pump rod, and mechanism limiting downward motion of the other plunger beyond a predetermined point and releasably locking said other plunger against travel with the pump rod on the upstroke; said mechanism including a tubular mandrel secured to the other plunger and extending upward into the coupling assembly, an internally exposed top lock ring in said coupling assembly, the mandrel projecting through the ring, a member on the mandrel above and seating on said ring, a locking element releasably engaging the ring from below, said locking element being fixed with respect to the mandrel, and a member movable with the pump rod operative to engage and release said locking element upon other than normal axial motion ci said pump rod.

In an oil well pump which includes a pump jacket suspended by a coupling assembly from tubing, and a reciprocatory pump rod extending into the pump jacket from within the tubing; a pair oi' cooperative tubular plungers in the pump jacket, one of the plungers reciprocating with the pump rod, and mechanism limiting downward motion oi' the other plunger beyond a predetermined point and releasably locking said other plunger against travel with the pump rod on the upstroke; said mechanism including a tubular mandrel secured to the other plunger and extending upward into the coupling assembly, an internally exposed top lock ring in said coupling assembly, the mandrel projecting through the ring, a member on the mandrel above and seating on said ring, a locking element releasably engaging the ring from below, said locking element being fixed with respect to the mandrel, and a member movable with the pump rod operative to engage and release said locking element upon upward motion of the pump rod beyond its normal point of rise.

3. In an oil well pump which includes a pump jacket suspended by a coupling assembly from tubing, and a reciprocatory pump rod extending into the pump jacket from within the tubing; a pair of cooperative tubular plungers in the pump jacket, one of the plungers reciprocating with the pump rod, and mechanism limiting downward motion of the other plunger beyond a predetermined point and releasably locking said other plunger againsttravel with the pump rod on the upstroke; said mechanism including a tubular mandrel secured to the other plunger and extending upward into the coupling assembly, an internally exposed top lock ring in said coupling assembly, the mandrel projecting through the ring, a member on the mandrel above and seating on said ring, a locking element releasably engaging the ring from below, said locking element being fixed with respect to the mandrel, and a member movable with the pump rod operative to engage and release said locking element upon upward motion of the pump rod beyond its normal point of rise; said member being lixed in connection with and upstanding from said one plunger for travel therewith.

4. An oil Well pump, as inclaim 3, in which the locking element is a longitudinal leaf spring which is normally sprung outward for ring engagement.

5. An oil well pump, as in claim 3, in which the locking element is a longitudinal leaf spring which is normally sprung outward for ring engagement, and said release member is a sleeve adapted to ride up said spring yand urge it inward to a position clear of and for passage through said ring.

6. In an oil well pump which includes a pump jacket suspended by a coupling assembly from tubing, and a reciprocatory pump rod extending into the pump jacket from within the tubing; a pair of cooperative tubular plungers in the pump jacket, one of the plungers reciprocating with the pump rod, a radially inwardly extending top lock ring in said coupling assembly, a tubular mandrel upstanding from the other plunger about the pump rod and projecting through the ring from below, a head on the mandrel seating on the ring from above, a locking element releasably engaging the ring from below, said locking element being fixed with respect to the mandrel, and a member movable with the pump rod operative to engage and release said locking element upon other than normal axial motion of said pump rod.

7. In an oil well pump which includes a pump jacket suspended by a coupling assembly from tubing, and a reciprocatory pump rod extending into the pump jacket from within the tubing; a pair of cooperative tubular plungers in the pump jacket, one of the plungers reciprocating with the pump rod, a radially inwardly extending top lock ring in said coupling assembly, a tubular mandrel upstanding from the other plunger about the pump rod and projecting through the ring from below, a head on the mandrel seating on the ring from above, a collar secured to the mandrel in spaced relation below the ring, a longitudinal spring upstanding from the collar normally sprung outward and end engaging the ring from below, and a member movable with the pump rod below the ring operative to ride up said spring and urge it upward, to a position clear of and for passage through the ring, upon upward motion of the pump rod beyond its normal point of rise.

8. In an oil well pump which includes a pump jacket suspended by a coupling assembly from tubing, and a reciprocatory pump rod extending into the pump jacket from within the tubing; a pair of cooperative tubular plungers in the pump jacket, one of the plungers reciprocating with the pump rod. a radially inwardly extending top lock ring in said coupling assembly, a tubular mandrel upstanding from the other plunger about the pump rod and projecting through the ring from below, a head on the mandrel seating on the ring from above, a collar secured to the mandrel in spaced relation below the ring, a longitudinal spring upstanding from the collar normally sprung outward and end engaging the ring from below, and a sleeve movable with the pump rod below the ring operative to ride up said spring and urge it upward, to a position clear of and for passage through the ring, upon upward motion of the pump rod beyond its normal point of rise.

9. In an oil well pump which includes a pump jacket suspended by a coupling assembly from tubing, and a reciprocatory pump rod extending into the pump jacket from within the tubing; a pair of cooperative tubular plungers in the pump jacket, one of the plungers reciprocating with the pump rod, a radially inwardly extending top lock ring in said coupling assembly, a tubular mandrel upstanding from the other plunger about the pump rod and projecting through the ring from below, a head on the mandrel seating on the ring from above, a collar secured to the mandrel in spaced relation below the ring. a circumferential row of leaf springs upstanding from the collar normally sprung outward and end engaging the ring from below, and a sleeve upstanding from and movable with said one plunger operative to ride up said row of springs and urge them inward, to a position clear of and i'or passage through the ring, upon upward travel of the pump rod and said one plunger above the normal point of rise.

10. In an oil well pump which includes a pump jacket suspended by a coupling assembly from tubing, and a reciprocatory pump rod extending into the pump jacket from within the tubing; a pair of cooperative tubular plungers in the pump jacket, one of the plungers reciprocating with the pump rod, a radially inwardly extending top lock ring in said coupling assembly, a tubular mandrel upstanding from the other plunger about the pump rod and projecting through the ring from below, a head on the mandrel seating on the ring from above, a collar secured to the mandrel in spaced relation below the ring, a circumferential row of leaf springs upstanding from the collar normally sprung outward and end engaging the ring from below, and a sleeve upstanding from and movable with said one plunger operative to ride up said row of springs and urge them inward, to a position clear of and for passage through the ring, upon upward travel of the pump rod and said one plunger above the normal point of rise; the maximum outside diameter of the plungers and sleeve being less than the inside diameter of the ring.

DOUGLAS M. GALL. DOUGLAS G. GALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 940,347 McCarthy et al Nov. 1.6, 1909 1,764,075 Gunn et al June 17, 1930 2,026,465 Gall Dec. 31, 1935 

